'She Asked for Cremation': Man Claims Girlfriend’s Death Was Suicide After Dismembered Body Found

Mysterious Disappearance Ends in Horror

On 9 September, 2023, 37-year-old hostess Shizuka Takase traveled by ferry to Izu Oshima, a secluded volcanic island south of Tokyo, to visit her boyfriend, 45-year-old tatami shop owner Sotatsu Yanase. She was last seen alive booking a return ferry to leave the island on September 12 and had hotel plans in Okinawa with friends.

But she never boarded the ferry—and never made it to Okinawa. Her remains were discovered six weeks later on a beach by a local man.

Bones Found, Confession Follows

On 23 October, 2023, a beach cleaner on Oshima Island stumbled upon human bones—later confirmed via DNA testing on January 14, 2024, to belong to Takase.

Police soon arrested Yanase on January 24 on charges of mutilating and abandoning a corpse. He admitted to burning and dismembering Takase’s body, then discarding the remains in the ocean.

Yanase told authorities he discovered Takase had died by suicide at his home and panicked. Instead of calling for help, he claimed he used a saw to cut up the body in a nearby vacant lot and then incinerated her remains before dumping them in the sea. He insisted he was only following her supposed wish for cremation and ocean burial, referencing a note she allegedly left behind. However, police have not independently confirmed the note’s existence.

Evidence of a Strained Relationship

Takase and Yanase had a complicated history. They met in 2019 when she worked at a bar on Izu Oshima, where he was a regular. Despite being married with children, Yanase entered a relationship with her. Takase later relocated to Shimoda in Shizuoka Prefecture, where she continued working as a hostess, while maintaining her relationship with Yanase.

Their history includes multiple police reports: Yanase previously contacted authorities about arguments with Takase and also complained about her frequent phone calls. Investigators say Yanase had been transferring money to her regularly and had close ties with other women.

Defense Cites “Final Wish”

During the opening of Yanase’s trial at Tokyo District Court on June 19, 2025, the defense reiterated that Takase had taken her own life and that Yanase’s actions afterward followed her wishes for a sea cremation.

Vacant Lot Where Victim’s Body was Burned, Photo Courtesy of bunshun.jp

Prosecutors, however, emphasized that Yanase burned and dismembered her without alerting any authorities or family.

Public Still Searching for Answers

Despite his confession, questions linger about what truly happened between September 9 and 12 inside Yanase’s home. Takase’s friends and family maintain that she had every intention of going on her Okinawa trip, having already purchased a hotel booking and ferry ticket.

Authorities continue investigating the timeline, looking for inconsistencies in Yanase’s version of events. The case has captured public attention in Japan and abroad, as many question whether justice is being served—or if a tragic murder is being disguised as a final request.

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